Nut-marking machine



W. D. SIMPSON. NUT MARKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 22.1919.

Patented June 22, 1920.

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331144 a/bli'oz/rwlaw W. D. SIMPSON. NUT MARKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Jun 22. 191.9.

1,344,007. Patented June 22, 1920. v

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w. D. SiMPSON.

NUT MARKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 22.1919. 1 344,()O7, Patented June 22, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' w. n. SIMPSON. NUT MARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY 22,1918- Patented June 22, 1920.

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\\\ mun- W. D. SIMPSON.

NUT MARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, IBM.

1,344,007. Patented June 22,1920.

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wue/wioz UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM D. SIMPSON, OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

NUT-MARKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Ju 22 1920 Application filed July 22, 1919. Serial No. 312,480.

number oi nuts or the like may be quickly marked.

A further object of my invention is to provide a suitable feeding and handling.

riations in the size of the nuts being operated upon.

In carrying out my invention I prefer to use a comparatively wide hopper having a row of openings extending along the bottom thereof throughout the greater portion oi its width. Positioned beneath the open ings is a carrier, preferably comprising a horizontally rotating drum or cylinder having rows oi mat-receiving recesses in. its periphery and provided with, means operated by the weight 01 the nuts for holding the nuts until the same have been marked. JLCl'OSS the row of il'eed openings inthe llOppO l I prefer to employ a slide operated intermittently to automatically feed. nuts into the carrier when the recesses are properly positioned beneath the hopper, thereby insuring the delivery of only sufficient nuts to properly fillup therecesses. The nuts are then movedby means of the carrier into engagement with a row of marking or branding devices positioned opposite the nut-receiving recesses whereby the nuts may-be marked I prefer to employ electrically heated branding irons, the branding irons being yieldably supported in order to operate upon nuts of varying sizes. Upon further movement of the carrier the nuts so marked areautomatically released from the recesses.

WVhile I describe my invention as being used, particularly in connection with walnuts, it is obvious that it may also be used to operate upon other similar articles.

Referring more particularly to the drawmgs: a

' Figure 1 shows a side elevation of'my invention. i i i Y Fig. 2 shows a broken section longitudinally through the carrier drum.

Fig. shows an end elevation of the machine. 1

Fig. 4 represents a transverse section of the carrier drum. g

7 Fig. 5 shows a section on the line 55 of Fig. 1 showing a plan view of the carrying drum and the marking devices.

Fig. 6 shows a broken section longitudinally through the marking devices.

F ig. 7 represents a section on the line 7 -7 ofFig. 1 showing the under side of the hopper and feeding mechanism.

Fig. 8 shows an enlarged section on. the line S -S of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows in detail a portion of the interior of the hopper.

Fig. 10 shows, a nut-receiving recess in section.

Fig. 11 represents an enlarged section showing the construction of the marking devices.

Fig. 12 shows a transverse section through the drum in which the marking devices are supported. I

Fig. 13 shows a detailperspective of a portion ofthe nut feeding mechanism. I

Fig. 14 represents aimodification for controlling the circuitsto the electrically heated marking devices. I i

In the drawings 5 indicates a base having vertical standards 6 thereon. Supported above the base by means of braces 7 is a nutreceiving hopper 8, the hopper extending substantially the vwidth of the base. A row of openings 9 is provided at the bottom of the hopper throughout the greater portion of its width and in order to direct the nuts into the openings the ends. of the hopper are preferably provided with inclined fillers 10 and the portions of the bottom between the openings are rounded on top asfindicated at 11.

Supported in suitable bearings in the points 25 on their extremities.

standards 6 isa shaft 12, to which is secured a nut-carrying drum having a plu rality of rows of nut-receiving cups or recesses 16 extending across its periphery, the number of recesses in each row corresponding to the number of feed openings -9 in the bottom of the hopper. The drum may be driven by any preferred means, such asa belt 17 engaging a pulley 18 keyed to one end of the shaft. Keyed to the opposite end of the shaft is a gear 19 for the purpose hereinafter more fully described.

Each nut-receiving recess 16 in the drum 15 is provided with a nut-holding means comprising a pair of lever arms 20 pivoted at 21 and moving in slots 22 in the nutreceiving'recesses, the arms preferably being so curved as to conform with the walls of the recesses (see Fig. lb). On the outer ends of the arms 20 are weighted portions preferably projecting beyond the periphcry of the drum and having nut-engaging By means of this construction, the weight of a nut in the recess will push down on arms 20 causing them to rock in the slots 22 and swing the points 25' into engagement with the shell. of the nut, thereby holding the nut against movement so long as the weight of the nut rests on the arms 20. Yv hen, however, the carrier is rotated to a position where the re cesses are inverted, the weight of the nut will be against the portions 2i, thereby dis engaging points 25 and allowing the nut to drop.

For feeding the nuts fromthe hopper into he recesses in such a manner that lait a single nut may fall into each recess, a slide is mounted in guides 27011 each side of the hopper in such manner that it 111. y be reciprocatcd across the openings 9 in the hopper, the slide being provided with openings 28 norn'ially adapted to register with the openings 9. The slide liireferably provided with rollers 25] moving in the guideays 27 whereby it may be more easily operated. The springs 30 are secured to the guide frames 27 and to the slides for returning the slide to normal position after it has been moved out of position as hereindescribed. Pivoted to'the guides 27 and extending substantially the entire width between them, is a curved plate 31 for re taining the nuts after they drop through the openings 28 in the slide, the curved plate normally cooperating with a stationary guide plate 32 provided with a pair of spaced partitions 33 beneath each opening 28, therely insuring of the nuts being held. in proper position over the nut-receiving recesses 16.

Having a-common pivot lwith the curved plate 31 are cranks 34') having one arm 36 provided with a pin STImgaging yokes 37 on the under side of the slide. The opposite arm 88 of each crank is provided with a depending lever 39 pivoted at 4:0 and retained in normal position by means of the Still coil spring 0n the lower end of each lever is a laterally extending lug 42.

(hi each end of the carrying drum 15, and

slightly in advance of each row of nutreceiving recesses are placed pins id projecting beyond the periphery of the drum and positioned so that during rotation of the drum these pins l l are successively brought into engagement with lugs 42 on the levers 39.

In operation, nuts falling through the registered openings 9 and 28 are caught on the curved plate 31 and held in position by partitions on the guide plate Upon the rotation of the carrier drum 15 pins 4a are brought into engagement with lugs 4-2 on the le'ers The spring ell is still enough so that it does not ordinarily function, and he crank is accordingly rocked on its pivot 34: by the movement of the pins all, This motion of the crank serves to move the curved plate 31 away from the guide plate whereby the nuts are allowed to roll from the curved plate into the nut-receiving recesses 16, the nuts being guided into the recesses by the partitions 33. By means of the pin and yoke connection to the sliding plate the movement of the crank 35 also 1 ,moved, the spring ll will permit the lever 35) to be moved by the pins M: on the drum but without rocking the crank According to my invention the carrier drum is continuously rotated and the nuts after falling into the nut-receiving recesses are carried opposite a suitable marking (ic- *ice. l" or marking the nuts I prefer to use a drum 4:5 supported in a pair of standards 5 on the base 5, the drum being carried on a shaft 48 to which is secured a gear 4:9 meshing with gear 19 on the shaft 12 whereby the two drums may be rotated in synchronism. Carried by the drum 46 are a plurality of rows of marking devices 50. The number of marking devices in each row correspomls to the number of nut-receiving recesses 16 in a single row on the drum 15 and are so positioned that each marking device may be brought opposite a nut-receiving recess, the gearing being so timed that a row of markers is presented onoosite each row of recesses in succession.

The marking devices preferably comprise an electrically heated die51 yieldingly supported on a heatinsulating base 52 by means or a spring. contained within a heat insulating tube 54". Surrounding each die is a heat insulating jacket 55 yieldingly'carried on the spring 56, the outward extremities of the jacket preferably being roughened or toothed to engage the nut during the b 'anding operation to assist in holding it against movement. The slots 57 are prefe'rably provided in the insulators 55 through which pass electric conductors 59, the slots permitting of the relative movements of the die and insulating jacket without danger oi injuryto the conductors. By reason of the yielding action provided by the springs,

nuts oi varying-sizes and shapes may be successfully operated upon.

I The electrlcally heated dies maybe con nected to a source-of electric current in any well known manner, but I prefer to connect a single row of dies in series, asindicated in Fig. 11, the opposite ends ofthe Wires being then connected to contact plates 60 on the end of the drum. These plates may be annular or they may be in the form of segments, one segment being provided for each row or dies, as shown in the modification in Fig. 1a. supportsGl on which are carried contact devices or brushes (32 adapted to be held in engagement with the contact plates (30 during the rotation of the drum 46. For msuring the low of current across the brushes (32 and plates 60 a spring 63 ispre'ferably provided to urge the brushes against the contacts. The brushes 62 are suitably connected with a source of electric current by conductors 64.

When the contact plates 60 are segmental, as indicated in the modification shown in Fig. 1%, the brushes are preferably so placed that the row of dies next to be brought'into operative position is being heated during he time that the preceding row 011 the drum is operating upon arow of nuts.

7 Placedbeneath the nut-carrying drum 15 is a suitable receptacle such as a trough 65 into which the nuts may drop after being released from the carrier by gravity.

In operation nuts are put into the hopper 8 and the carrier drum rotated by means of the driving belt 17. Projecting pins 4a on the ends of the drum 15 engage lugs 42 on the lovers 4-1 tooperate'the feeding mechanism in the matter hereinbefore described to permit a nut to fall into'each recess 16 in a row as the rows are presented in succes sion beneath the hopper. The weights of the nuts in each recess actuate the holding points 25 as hereinbefore described until after the rotation of the drum has presented the nuts to the marking devices 50 carried by the oppositely rotated drum 46. Upon further Secured to the standards 17 are rotationof the carrier 15 to bring the nuts into inverted position the nut holding points changes may be made within the seope'ofv instead of using the appended claims. branding devices for marking the nuts, it is contemplated that stamps may be used, provision being made or inking the stamps by a third cylinder carrying an inking pad.

I claim as my invention: I

l. A nut marking machine comprising a hopper for receiving nuts to be marked, a nut-receiving carrier adapted to receive a plurality ofnuts at a time beneath said hopper, and means on said carrier for holding nuts, said means being controlled by the nuts, means in said hopper for delivering a pluralityof nuts to the carrier at a time, means for marking the nuts, and means for moving the carrier to bring the nuts into contact with the marking means.

2. A nut marking machine comprising a hopper, a horizontally rotatable cylinder beneath said hopper, gravity operated nutholding. means in said cylinder adapted to clamp the-nuts when. the nut-holdingmeans are substantially upright and to release the nuts when said means are inverted, means for feeding nuts from the hopper into the nut-receiving means, and marking devices for marking the nuts in said receivingineans after they are moved trom beneath the hopper.

A nut marking machine comprising a hopper, a horizontallyrotatable cylinder beneath said hopper, nut-holding means in said cylinder adapted to clamp the nuts when the nut-holding means are substantially upright and to release the nuts when said meansare inverted, means for feeding nuts from the hopper into the nut-receiving means, and marking devices for marking the one at a time through each of the openings,

a horizontally rotatable cylinder beneath the hoppensaid cylinderhaving rows ot'nutreceiving recesses in its periphery, a common means for feeding a single nut into each nut-receiving recess in a'row as each row is brought successively into position beneath the hopper, and rows of marking devices cooperating with said cylinder to present a markmg device opposite each nutreceiving recess on the cylinder, the rows nuts from the hopper into the recesses,

means i'or rotating the carrier drum, and

marking d vices cooperating with the drum for p niiing a markin die opposite each recess a. ter it moves from beneath the feeding means.

(3.6a nut marking machine comprising a hopper having a row of feed openings along its bottom, a nut-receiving carrier movable beneath said hopper, rows of nut-receiving means on said carrier, means controlled by the nuts in the receiving means for holding the nuts in position therein, feeding mechanism beneath said feed openings in the hopper for permitting but a single nut being fed from each opening at a time, means comprising a reeiprocable slide operated by the carrier for reciprocating the slide, and marking devices adapted to be brought into contact wi h the nuts in the receiving means on the carrieu 7. A nut marking machine comprising a hopper having a row of feed openings along its bottom, a nut-receiving carrie' movable beneath said hopper, rows of nnt-receiving and holding means on said carrier, feeding mechanism beneath said "teed openings in the hopper for permitting but a single nut being fed from each opening at a time, means for preventing said feeding means from functioning should a nut become caught therein, means operated by the car river for operating the feeding mechanism, and mar-hing devices adapted to be brought into contact with the nuts in the receiving means on the carrier.

8. A nut marking device comprising a hopper, nut-feeiling means for said hop 3G1, a nut-carrying drum rotatably supported beneath said hopper and provided with rows of nut-receiving devices on its periphcry, a second drum adjacent the nut-carrying drum and having a plurality of rows oi? nut marking devices said marking devices )ro'ectin be ond its )eri )her I said second drum having its axis parallel to the axis oi the nut carrying drum, means for operating both drums in synchronism wh reby 'a lOW oi marking devices may always he presented opposite a row of nutreeeiving devices on the carrying drum, and means tor dispensing nuts from the hopper, said means acting concomitantly with the rotation of the drum.

9. A nut marking device comprising a hopper having a ill'ili'lSVClSO row of openings in the iiiotton'i thereof, nut-feeding means ror feeding a single nut simultaneously rroni each opening in said hopper, a nut carrying drum rotatably supported beneath said hopper and provided with rows or cupshaped nut-receiving devices on its periphery, a second drum adjacent the nutcarrying drum and ha ring a plurality oi" rows of electrically heated nut marking devices having heat insulating means around them, the nut marl'zing devices projecting beyond the periphery of the drum, and means for operating both drums in synehronism whereby row oi. marking devices may always be presented opposite a row of nut-receiving devices on the carrying drum.

ii). A nut marking machine comprising a hopper, nut-feeding means for said hopper, a nut-carrying drum rotatably carried beneath said hopper and n'ovided with rows oi. nut-receiving devices on its periphery, a second drum adjacei'it the nut carrying drum and having a plurality of rows of 1:? div heatei'l yieldingly supported nut devices projecting beyond its peiiphe y, "d nut marking devices having yielding y'supported heat insulating ackets around them, and means for operating both drums in synchronism wherebya row of marking devices will always be presented opposite a row of nut-receiving devices on the carryiin g drum.

11'. A nut marking device comprising a hopper, a nut-carryii'ig drum rotatable beneath said hopper, means for feeding nuts from the hopper to the drum, niJit-receiving means on said drum, nut holding means aetuated by the wei ht oi the nuts adapted to clamp the nuts untii the nuts are carried to inverted position by rotation of the drum, marking devices for marking the nuts while they are clamped in the mit-receiving means, and means for collecting the nuts a iter they are released from the nut-holding means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM D. SIMPSON. 

